Who is running for Commissioner of Insurance in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Commissioner of Insurance on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for all voters in Kansas.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Daniel HawkinsRepublican | Dinah SykesDemocrat | Ric KoehnLibertarian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business regulation | Cut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesSaid · medium | Stronger rules on big corporations, banks and tech companiesSaid · medium | Cut regulations broadly and let the market sort it outSaid · medium |
| Healthcare | Private insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsSaid · medium | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenSaid · medium | No public position |
Daniel Hawkins
RepublicanSpeaker of the Kansas House (District 100, Wichita); insurance agent
Daniel (Dan) Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, has served in the Kansas House since 2013 and has been Speaker since 202312. He has worked in insurance for about 30 years and owns an insurance agency; the current commissioner, Vicki Schmidt, ran for governor and is not on the ballot3. He is the Republican nominee for Commissioner of Insurance in an open-seat race43.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Business regulationCut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says he will open the insurance market to more carriers and demand lower, fairer rates, make insurers pay claims on time, and lists among his House record new procedures to eliminate unnecessary rules and regulations for small businesses. (2026) source
- The Kansas News Service reports he wants a competitive insurance environment by deregulating the industry. (2026-09-22) source
- He told the Kansas News Service it will be his job to go after any insurance company that does not follow the law. (2026-09-22) source
HealthcarePrivate insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says he has for over a decade led the effort to prevent the expansion of Obamacare in Kansas and wants to bring new insurance options and competition to Kansas. (2026) source
- He said "no Kansan should be denied coverage," and the Kansas News Service reports he is against Medicaid expansion. (2026-09-22) source
No public position found on: Drug prices.
Dinah Sykes
DemocratKansas state senator (District 21, Lenexa); Senate Minority Leader
Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, has served in the Kansas Senate since 2017 and has been Senate Minority Leader since 2021, the first woman to hold that post12. She was elected as a Republican in 2016 and changed parties in 201834. She is the Democratic nominee for Commissioner of Insurance and has no insurance industry background25.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Business regulationStronger rules on big corporations, banks and tech companiesmedium
Said · medium confidence- She said her platform centers on lowering costs, consumer protection and holding "big insurance companies accountable," and that she would convene groups to find what drives rising insurance rates. (2026-01-08) source
- She told the Kansas Reflector podcast the commissioner is a regulator who protects consumers and must use data to shape policy. (2026-09-28) source
Drug pricesNo single answer fitsmedium
Official action · medium confidence
Ric Koehn
LibertarianLibertarian candidate for Commissioner of Insurance
Ric Koehn is the Libertarian nominee for Commissioner of Insurance and has no campaign website12. He told the Libertarian Party of Kansas he is running because the party is committed to the free market and that his priority would be returning the insurance industry to the free market2.
Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Business regulationCut regulations broadly and let the market sort it outmedium
Said · medium confidence- The Libertarian Party of Kansas reports he would work to return the insurance industry to the free market and opposes all taxes and subsidies. (2026) source
No public position found on: Healthcare, Drug prices.
Last reviewed 2026-10-07. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.